Treatment of intravitreal and prepapillary neovascularization following branch retinal vein occlusion

Ten eyes which had developed retinitis proliferans following branch retinal vein occlusion were treated with xenon photocoagulation utilizing an ablative technique limited to the effected retinal quadrants. In eight of the ten eyes, complete regression of the vessels was obtained, as evidenced by nonfilling on subsequent fluorescein angiography. The remaining two eyes showed significant but incomplete closure. There were no postoperative vitreous hemorrhages, no significant permanent complications, and the visual acuity remained at or better than pretreatment levels in all cases. In conclusion, we wish to reemphasize the limited scope of this report. The series, though consecutive, is small and the follow-up period relatively short. On the basis of the cases presented here, we believe that continued investigation using this mode of treatment is warranted, and that this method may prove to be of significant value in the management of complicated retinal branch vein occlusion.